Floor machine



,June 26,' 192s. l 1,675,078

F. w. YUTzLl-:R FLoo MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, vw24 nven'tov M'w't attenua,

PatentedI June 26, 192s..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

man w. YU'rzLnn, or noun, Naw Yonx, Assia/Non To 'run `x'nN'r COMPANY, moon.-

Q romani), or noun, NEW Yonx, a CORPORATION or Naw Yonx.

FLOOR MACHINE.

Application led November 1, 1924. Serial No. 747,158.

This invention relates to finishing and polishing machines and more particularly to pads for polishing or other finishing operations, adapted for use with a machine c mbodying an annular polishing brush whlch rotates on a vertical axis. It is one of the objects of the`nvention to provide a polishing pad, adapted for use W1th a machineof the type referred to, that will be capable l0 0f polishing a waxed floor or other surface without leaving any machine marks on the surface or, in other words, to produce a polished surface thatwill have a mirrorlike'inish without streaks or marks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pad for the purposes stated that is simple and inexpensive to construct and also readily applicable to machines of the type referred to without requiring the use of a A special fastening device and which will,

nevertheless, be securely held inposition.

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a floor polishing machine having my'invention applied thereto;

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved polishing pad;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modication of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a common form of polishing machine that is driven by an electric motor and comprises an annular brush 11 adapted for rougholishing of waxed and other surfaces. The

rush 11 is rotated about a vertical axis and the lower surface of the brush acts upon the surface to be polished and is used to uni-` formly distribute the wax or other polishing material.

My improved polishing pad comprises a piece of carpet, or other suitable fabric material, preferably, although not necessarily, of circular form, adapted to be placed under the brush 11, as shown in Fig. 1, and this pad is rotated by the engagement of the bristles of the brush 11 with the top surface of the pad, there being sufficient frictional engagement to cause the pad to rotate with the brush, without slipping.` The brush 11 is in the form of an annulus and, in order to hold the pad 12y in concentric relation to the brush and to prevent it from being displaced, I secure to the upper side of the pad a block 13 preferably in the form of a frustum of a one, which is adapted to be inserted into the central opening of the brush 11.

I provide a groove 14 in the lower side with the floor would produce scratches in4 the surface.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the pad 12 projects beyond the periphery of the brush 11 so that the peripheral portion of the pad is free of the weight of the machine 10 and, therefore, rests lightly on the floor. I have found by` experience that this arrangement produces a smooth unmarked'surface. lHeretofore, polishing pads have been used in which all of the area of contact with the surface to be polished, is subjected to the Weight of the machine and this results in marks and streaks being left which show the path of the machine during the polishing operation. Undoubtedly the central portion of the pad 11 would produce streaks in -the polishing surface but the projecting portion of the pad .12, on account of only bearing lightly on the surface, obliterates any marks that are produced by the central portion of the pad.

The block 13 holds the pad in proper relation to the brush 11 and prevents the machipe from being displaced relatively to the pa' In the form of the invention shownin.

` of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3..

While I have described my invention with particular reference to 1polishin pads, it 1s apparent that my nove metho of driving the pad by frictional engagement of bristles with the top surface of the pad and the arrangement of the block 13 in the central opening in the brush are applicable to other types of surface-finishing devices for use with machines of the kind referred to and I, therefore, intend that the term olishing pad, as used in the claims, sha1 include such other surfacing devices. y

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a machine having a member rotating on a vertical axis and having a. central opening, of a polishing pad separate from said member and loosely arranged between said member and the surface to be polished and having a block secured on its upper side which is loosely arranged in the central opening in said member to ret-ain the pad in its operating relation to said member.

2. In apparatus of the class described', the combination with a machine having a member rotating on a vertical axis and on which the weight of the machine is carried, of a fiexible polishing pad separable from said member and having a centrally arranged block secured to its upper side engaging with said member so as to hold thepad in coaxial relation with said member and cause the pad to be rotated thereby, the central portion of said pad being pressed against the surface to be polished ty the weight of Saga machine and said block, and said pad having an annular peripheral portion which is free of the weight of said machine.

3. In apparatus of the classdescribed, the combination with a machine having a member rotating on a vertical axis and having a central opening, of a polishing pad separate from said member and loosely arranged between saidmember and the surface to be polished and of such size as to project substantially be ond the periphery of said member, and a lock secured to said pad' and loosely arranged in the central opening in said member to retain the pad in its operating relation to said member. l

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a machine having a brush rotating on a vertical axis and having a central openin of a polishing (pad placed beneath said rush and rotate thereby, said pad projecting substantiall beyond the periphery of said brush' so t at the marginal portions of the pad will onl lightly contact with the surface to be polis ed, and a block secured on the. upper side of said pad and arranged in the central opening in said brush to retain the pad inits operating relation to said brush.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a polishing pad made of a disk of flexible fa ric material having on one side a block substantially smaller in size than said pad and provided with a recess in its side adjacent said ad and the pad being secured to said block y means whereby the fabric is forced into said recess and which is arranged entirely away from the active surface of the pad.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a olishing pad made of-'a disk of flexible fa ric material having secured to one side a block, and said pad having a series of weights adj acent its periphery for the purpose set forth.

7 In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a machine having a -disk brush rotatably mounted on a vertical axis therein, said brush havin a central opening therein, a disk arranged tween said brush and the surface to be operated upon and driven b the frictional en agement of said brush with the upper surface of the disk,

and a block secured on the upper surface of x said disk and positioned in the central opening in said brush to prevent displacement of the pad relatively to the brush.

8. ,In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a. machine having a rotatable member on which the weight of the machine is carried, a flexible polishing pad' of fabric material loosely arranged between said member and the surface to be operated upon and of substantiall larger diameter than said member where y theperipheral portion of said pad will not be pressed against said surface by the weight of the machine, and means secured to the central part of said pad and looselv engaging said member for the purpose of preventing lateral displacement of the pad when operating. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED W. YUTZLER. 

